6 in fray for bypoll

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 11

As many as six candidates have filed nomination papers for the bypoll of ward number 30 in the city. While BJP candidate Munish Sharma filed his papers on Tuesday, which was the last day, Congress candidate Jeet Mal had filed his papers on Monday without much fanfare.

Mother of the BJP candidate has also filed her nomination as covering candidate. Apart from these, three Independent candidates — Harmandeep Singh, Mohit Bansal and Rattan Kumar — have also filed their papers.

SDM Amarinder Singh Tiwana said six candidates had filed papers for the bypoll. The scrutiny of papers would be held on June 12 and the last date of withdrawing nomination papers is June 13.

The bypoll would be held on June 21. Voting would take place from 8 am to 4 pm. After polling, the counting of votes would be done the same day, he stated.

Meanwhile, it seems to be a direct contest between Congress and BJP in this bypoll.

BJP has fielded Munish Sharma (35), the youth face of the party. He is banking on the image of his grandfather Moti Ram Sharma, who had remained vice president of Bathinda MC in the past.

On the other hand, Congress has fielded veteran Jeet Mal, who is 85 years old. He has remained a councilor for 25 years and is banking on his image and work done in the past years.

Munish Sharma was accompanied by SAD-BJP leaders while filing his papers at the District Administration Complex. BJP state general secretary Dyal Dass Sodhi, district president Vinod Binta, SAD leader and former MLA Sarup Chand Singla’s son Dinav Singla, Mayor Balwant Rai Nath, SAD Bathinda urban president Rajwinder Singh Sidhu and others were present.

While talking to mediapersons, Munish Sharma said he was fighting on the local issues of the area, including irregular and contaminated water supply, parking woes in the main markets and waterlogging of rain water at Sirki Bazaar.

Congress candidate Jeet Mal said he was contesting on the issue of rampant corruption in the Municipal Corporation, which is ruled by the SAD-BJP. Moreover, there were many other issues which were to be addressed, including stray cattle, water supply etc.

Reacting on the old age jibe that his opponent took on him, Jeet Mal said “If Parkash Singh Badal can run the state at this age, why can’t I contest and raise public issues”. If anyone wanted, he could race with him in this age as well, Jeet Mal added.